Orpik graduated from Thayer, a private school in Massachusetts, in 1998 after spending two years there. The defenseman earned All-League honors his junior and senior year, All-New England honors his senior year, and was chosen for the US U16 and U18 teams in 1996 and 1997 respectively.

Orpik received the honor over video conference because he could not attend the in-person ceremony.

Orpik’s ties to Massachusetts go deeper than attending Thayer. His family maintains a residence in Cohasset, where he spent his day with the Stanley Cup. He played college hockey at Boston College.